Methods and apparatus of building construction resisting earthquake and flood damage

Abstract

A three part foundation system for supporting a building is described. Three part foundation systems can include a containment vessel, which constrains a buffer medium to an area above the containment vessel, and a construction platform. A building can be built on the construction platform. In a particular embodiment, during operation, the construction platform and structures built on the construction platform can float on the buffer medium. In an earthquake, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium may experience greatly reduced shear forces. In a flood, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium can be configured to rise as water levels rise to limit flood damage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A foundation system for a structure, comprising:
 a containment vessel configured to hold a buffer medium, the containment vessel placed on a ground; and 
 a construction platform formed above the containment vessel wherein the construction platform including the structure is configured to float on the buffer medium; 
 one or more cantilevered columns anchored beneath the containment vessel and passing through an aperture in the construction platform; and 
 a ballast system for distributing weight from one side of the construction platform to another side of the construction platform; 
 wherein the construction platform is positioned relative to sides of the containment vessel and the aperture is sized such that during an earthquake the containment vessel can move from side to side while the construction platform floats above it allowing seismic forces transferred from the ground to the construction platform to be minimized and wherein one or more cantilevered columns allow the construction to rise vertically relative to the containment vessel while remaining over the containment vessel and wherein during flood conditions a bottom of the construction platform is allowed to rise above a top of the containment vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer medium is a liquid and an additive is mixed with the liquid to change its density. 
     
     
       3. The foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer medium is contained in a bladder and wherein the bladder and the buffer medium is less dense than water and wherein the bladder is coupled to the construction platform such that during flood conditions, the bladder is coupled to the construction platform to provide additional buoyancy. 
     
     
       4. The foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer medium is contained in a bladder and wherein the bladder and the buffer medium is denser than water and wherein the bladder is coupled to the construction platform such that during flood conditions, the bladder is configured to decouple from the construction platform. 
     
     
       5. The foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressible sealing mechanism placed between the cantilevered column and the containment vessel configured to allow the cantilevered column to move relative to the containment vessel while preventing the buffer medium from leaking from the containment vessel. 
     
     
       6. The foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing mechanism installed between the construction platform and the containment vessel configured to prevent debris from entering into the buffer medium and/or preventing evaporation of the buffer medium. 
     
     
       7. The foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the containment vessel is formed using concrete. 
     
     
       8. A foundation system for a structure, comprising:
 a containment vessel configured to hold a buffer medium, the containment vessel placed on a ground; 
 a construction platform formed above the containment vessel including the structure; 
 a ballast system for distributing weight from one side of the platform to another side of the platform; and 
 a tank, separate from the containment vessel, configured to hold the buffer medium; 
 wherein, in a dry operating condition, the buffer medium is contained in the tank and the construction platform is configured to rest on the containment vessel; 
 wherein, upon detection of an earthquake, the buffer medium is released from the tank into the containment vessel to allow the construction platform to float on the buffer medium and wherein the construction platform is positioned relative to sides of the containment vessel such that during an earthquake the containment vessel can move from side to side while the construction platform floats above it allowing seismic forces transferred from the ground to the construction platform to be minimized. 
 
     
     
       9. The foundation system of  claim 8 , wherein the buffer medium is water. 
     
     
       10. The foundation system of  claim 8 , wherein the additive is salt. 
     
     
       11. A foundation system for a structure, comprising:
 a first containment vessel configured to hold a buffer medium, the containment vessel placed on a ground; 
 a second containment vessel, separate from the first containment vessel, configured to hold the buffer medium, the containment vessel placed on the ground; 
 a construction platform, including the structure, formed above the first containment vessel and the second containment vessel, wherein the construction platform includes a first portion configured to float on the buffer medium in the first containment vessel and a second portion configured to float on the buffer medium in the second containment vessel; 
 a ballast system for distributing weight from one side of the platform to another side of the platform; and 
 a surface of the ground between the first containment vessel and the second containment vessel a distance beneath a bottom of the construction platform; 
 wherein the first portion of the construction platform is positioned relative to sides of the first containment vessel and the second portion of the construction platform is position relative to sides of the second containment vessel such that during an earthquake the first containment vessel and the second containment vessel can move from side to side while the construction platform floats above it allowing seismic forces transferred from the ground to the construction platform to be minimized wherein the distance beneath the bottom of the construction platform between the bottom of the construction platform and the surface between the first containment vessel and the second containment vessel is high enough to allow a car to be parked underneath. 
 
     
     
       12. The foundation system of  claim 11 , a sealing mechanism installed between the construction platform and the first containment vessel and between the construction platform and the second containment vessel configured to prevent debris from entering into the buffer medium and/or preventing evaporation of the buffer medium. 
     
     
       13. The foundation system of  claim 11 , wherein the buffer medium is stored in a bladder. 
     
     
       14. The foundation system of  claim 11 , wherein the buffer medium is a liquid and an additive is mixed with the liquid to change its density. 
     
     
       15. A foundation system for a structure, comprising:
 a containment vessel configured to hold a buffer medium, the containment vessel placed on a ground and including a first level which allows a first depth of buffer medium and second level lower than the first level which allows a second depth of buffer medium; 
 a construction platform formed above the containment vessel wherein the construction platform, including the structure, is configured to float on the buffer medium and wherein the construction platform includes a first portion positioned above the first level configured to provide buoyancy and a second portion positioned above the second level configured to provide buoyancy wherein the second portion extends into the containment vessel to a depth lower than the first level; and 
 a ballast system for distributing weight from one side of the platform to another side of the platform; and 
 wherein the construction platform is positioned relative to sides of the containment vessel such that during an earthquake the containment vessel can move from side to side while the construction platform floats above it allowing seismic forces transferred from the ground to the construction platform to be minimized. 
 
     
     
       16. The foundation system of  claim 15 , further comprising a sealing mechanism installed between the construction platform and the containment vessel configured to prevent debris from entering into the buffer medium and/or preventing evaporation of the buffer medium. 
     
     
       17. The foundation system of  claim 15 , further comprising a bladder which holds the buffer medium. 
     
     
       18. The foundation system of  claim 15 , wherein the buffer medium is a liquid and includes an additive to change a density of the buffer medium.